By Darin From the high-stakes theater of the NFL Draft to the selfless heroism of a fallen star, April 22nd is a cornerstone date in the American football timeline. Imagine a single day in 1990 that introduced the world to legends like Emmitt Smith and Junior Seau, or a day in 1995 that saw the Buccaneers draft two future Hall of Famers in the first round alone. But beyond the glitz of the draft stage, this date also carries the heavy legacy of Pat Tillman—the pro who walked away from millions to serve a higher calling. Join us as we journey through Draft Day miracles, jersey number revolutions, and the “steamroller” legends of the early collegiate game.
Our image of football art to celebrate today.
April 22 American Football History Timeline
- On April 22, 1990, the 1990 NFL Draft took place in New York City, and the first overall pick was made by the Indianapolis Colts, who chose University of Illinois quarterback Jeff George. As usual, we like to highlight the Hall of Fame players that have come out of each Draft class so far when we can. The Pro Football Reference website tells us that Seattle picked Cortez Kennedy with the third pick, and San Diego used the fifth overall pick to take Linebacker Junior Seau. The Cowboys had a great day when they chose future NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith with the 17th overall selection, while the Denver Broncos might have gotten away with robbery by taking future HOF tight End Shannon Sharpe in the 7th round, 192nd pick of the Draft! Just a note, but the NFL Drafts were still of the 12-round variety in 1990.
- On April 22, 1995, the Cincinnati Bengals held the first pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. For their choice, the Bengals chose Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter as the number one pick. According to the Pro Football Reference folks, the members of this draft class that have been enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame are Tampa Bay’s use of selection number 12 to take defensive tackle Warren Sapp of the University of Miami (FL), and then New England’s drafting of Michigan cornerback Ty Law at pick number 23. The Buccaneers turned around and made another brilliant defensive pick, taking linebacker Derrick Brooks with selection 28, and the Patriots also double-dipped into the future Hall of Fame pool by selecting Curtis Martin, the running back from Pitt. Denver once again used some late-round magic to find Georgia running back Terrell Davis in the 6th round with the 196th overall selection.
- The Newspapers.com Headline of the Day features tragic news from the Boston Globe’s April 24, 2004, sports headline: “In Time of Need, Cardinal was a Patriot!” for an article by columnist Bob Ryan.
- April, 22, 2004 – Arizona Cardinals Safety Patrick Tillman is killed by gunfire in the war in Afghanistan while on patrol with the U.S. Army Rangers. Ryan’s news clip tells of how Tillman patriotically left a $3.6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals to serve his country, along with his younger brother Kevin. Tillman, just in his act of leaving big money to risk his life for God and country, went from being a gridiron star to being a real hero in his quest to preserve freedom! The Patttillmanfundation.org adds that Pat served on multiple tours of duty, including in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004. On the evening of April 22, 2004, Pat’s unit was ambushed as it traveled through the rugged, canyon terrain of eastern Afghanistan. His heroic efforts to provide cover for fellow soldiers as they escaped from the canyon led to his untimely and tragic death via fratricide.
- April 22, 2010, NFL Draft: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford first pick by the St. Louis Rams. The Pro Football Reference gives us the following players picked with the second through tenth picks. Ndamukong Suh to Detroit, Gerald McCoy to Tampa, Trent Williams by Washington, KC’s pick of Eric Berry, Russell Okung to Seattle, Joe Haden by Cleveland, Rolando McClain to Oakland, C.J. Spiller by Buffalo, and Tyson Alualu for the Jacksonville Jaguars. This was a deep Draft as other names of note in this class are Anthony Davis, Ryan Matthews, Earl Thomas, Jason Pierre-Paul, Mike Iupati, Maurkice Pouncey, Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, Tim Tebow, Devin McCourty, Rob Gronkowski, Sean Lee, Golden Tate, and many more outstanding players.
- April 22, 2021: According to an NFL.com story by Kevin Patra, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that NFL owners approved a proposal from the Kansas City Chiefs to change jersey number rules. Originally, the temporary adjustment had allowed more positions to wear expanded numbers during the 2020 season, due to COVID-19 protocols for expanded practice squads. With the new approval, restrictions are permanently adjusted: single-digit numbers, once reserved for QBs, kickers, and punters, can now be worn by running backs, fullbacks, halfbacks, receivers, and tight ends, with eligible players able to wear numbers 1-49 and 80-89.
April 22 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these legendary figures of the early gridiron! Since today is April 22, we are just one day away from the anniversaries of these two Hall of Fame pioneers.
Here is the list in order of birth:
- Eddie Cameron [1902] A legendary fullback for Washington and Lee, Cameron famously arrived at the 1923 Virginia game mid-match after traveling through the night from his mother’s funeral, leading a second-half scoring drive to secure a 7-0 victory. A 1976 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, he later became the head coach and longtime Athletic Director at Duke University, where the iconic Cameron Indoor Stadium now bears his name.
- Barton “Botchy” Koch [1907] Standing 5-11 and weighing 195 pounds, Koch was an exceptionally aggressive guard for Baylor who was known for his “steamroller” style and knack for scoring rare lineman touchdowns by wrestling balls away from opponents. His high-motor play earned him consensus All-America honors in 1930 and a place in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
The milestones of April 22nd showcase the full spectrum of the football experience: the excitement of new beginnings in the NFL Draft, the evolution of the game’s rules, and the sobering reality of real-world heroism. From “Botchy” Koch’s aggressive defensive scores at Baylor to the modern era’s single-digit jersey revolution, the sport continues to change while honoring its roots. Most importantly, we remember Pat Tillman, whose transition from the Arizona Cardinals to the U.S. Army Rangers serves as a permanent reminder of what it means to be a true patriot.
